United States Institute for Theatre Technology Prague Quadrennial Junior Exhibit 2019

The Grinnell College Department of Theatre and Dance and the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) are kicking off a national tour of the United States exhibit from the Prague Quadrennial (PQ). The exhibit will be hosted in Burling Library on the northeast side of first floor through November.

The Prague Quadrennial (PQ) Junior exhibit displays highlights from both U.S. exhibits featured at PQ 2019, which took place June 6–16 in Prague. The exhibits utilize interactive, visual, and audible aspects to keep to the theme of “Porous Borders.”  The PQ featured exhibits from 79 countries, both professional and student designers, theatre architects, and performance artists from around the world.  USITT’s exhibit is a combination of professional and emerging artists representing  some of the strongest costume, lighting, scenic, and multi-media design from the United States over the last four years.  

The PQ is the largest performance design event in the world; it is often described as the Olympics or World’s Fair for performance designers. This international exhibition of design and technology features the work of professional designers as well as students and theatre architects from around the world.  By exhibiting thousands of designs from dozens of countries, and by bringing together designers, directors, students, and the general public, the PQ provides an unprecedented exchange of ideas that goes well beyond the narrow confines of theatrical design and style.

The PQ Junior exhibit will travel throughout the U.S. over the next three years to various colleges, universities, and arts facilities after its debut installation in Iowa.

Please stop by Burling Library and experience the World’s Fair of performance design. Questions may be directed to Justin Thomas, Associate Professor of Scenic and Lighting Design and Chair of the Theatre and Dance Department.